Shadow and Rush

I said I'd post opinions on them and here they are. Keep in mind they are only first impressions (well a bit more a review for Rush)

Shadow the Hedgehog:

This is a game that if you expect a lot you'll be disappointed, Expect little and you'll be surprised.

At first you'll hate it's loose feel. You have almost no control over Shadow and the slightest jolt in any direction sends him flying full speed. You can't target enemies despite needing to only hit some to complete certain missions. The game offers no multiple routes during the levels and the whole game gives an average impression.

But the more you play the more you can lost past it's noticable flaws. The Good/Bad system is quite well done. The game may be short but it needs to be done ten times before you can get the real ending. Plot is confusing at times and I suspect it'll make more sense once I've done everything.

Levels may be restrictive but it has a lot of freedom. You can choose to use guns or just Shadow's natural abilties. You can choose to use Vehicles or just run ahead. You can choose to kill or go straight for the goal.

The Level music is pretty meh! but the visuals can simply make you jaw drop. The Cyberspace levels look amazing and the base of ARK is stunning.

There are lots to play about with and the more you play the more you'll realise this and overlook the control and gameplay faults.

Above Average, better than Heroes but a long way from being Amazing.

Sonic Rush:

This game is by far the most fun I've had in a Sonic game for such a long time. The speed is always there, you can boost to full speed at the touch of a button. The trick system offers a reason to do more than just plough forward. And for once it's very noticeable that there are multiple routes to the same goal.

The levels are huge and are accomplied by awesome Jet Set Radio-esque music and great visuals. The bosses feel similar throughout but are great nethertheless. The special stage system is fantastic, first time in ages. Leaving the touch screen just for that was a smart move.

Though it's not without it's faults. Sonic and Blaze are more or less identical in how they move. No Flying as Tails, no Gliding and Climbing as Knuckles, No hammer smashing as Amy, etc. The only difference is Blaze can be sent flying with a well aimed stunt and Sonic can do the Special stages.

Also enemies are pretty basic and are as about as threatening as flies. They will only really take rings from you and stop good runs. Death will be the result of falling into a bottomless pit 99% of the time. Unless you're up against a boss and then it'll be getting crushed by special attacks that kill you even when you have rings.

The whole game reeks of evil traps and getting through them all is a real challenge.

And since you'll be hooked from the start you'll have the finished in no time at all, which is the final and biggest fault. It's too short. Only two characters and needing to get the emeralds once means all in all it took me 3 days, leaving me with only time beating and S ranks to get. This seems like a step back from the Advance games.

Challenging, fun but evil and short. A worthy purchase I just wish there was more to do.

Great, One of the best Sonic's since Adventure 2 and at least up there with Advance 3 if not just better.